Children Value The Lives Of Animals More Than Adults Do, New Study Finds

A new study from the University of Edinburgh found that children value the lives of animals more than adults do. In a hypothetical scenario where they had to choose between saving a dog or a human, more kids chose to save the animal compared to adults who prioritized saving the person. This suggests that species bias is learned rather than innate, as children express less bias towards valuing human life over animal life.

The study also revealed that children showed a preference for saving dogs over humans or other animals, such as chimps. This trend was seen in both hypothetical situations involving preventing harm and situations involving benefitting the animals, like giving them snacks. The research suggests that children have a weaker tendency to value humans over animals compared to adults, and this tendency may change as individuals age.